Hierarchical membrane by centrifugal casting and effects of incorporating activated carbon as pore-former. Issue 8 (July 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vicente, Renata; Cesca, Karina; da Silva, Anderson Felipe Viana; de Oliveira, Débora; de Andrade, Cristiano José; Ambrosi, Alan
• Is Part Of: Journal of the European Ceramic Society. Volume 43:Issue 8(2023)
• Page Start: 3447
• Page End: 3453
• Publication Date: 2023-07
• Subjects: Inorganic membrane -- α-alumina -- Asymmetric membrane -- Pore former agent -- Ultrafiltration membrane; Ceramic materials -- Periodicals; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Matériaux céramiques -- Périodiques; Composites -- Périodiques; Ceramic materials; Composite materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2023.02.040
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0955-2219

Abstract

Abstract: Producing ceramic asymmetric membranes usually requires several steps to prepare macroporous support and then the selective layer deposition. This process is energy and time-consuming, which is expensive. In this sense, the one-step centrifugal casting technique is an interesting alternative. Therefore, this work aimed to prepare ultrafiltration ceramic membranes by the centrifugal casting method, investigating the effect of a pore-forming agent on membrane performance. Different concentrations of activated carbon were used in the alumina suspension, and then the tubes were molded, dried, and sintered. The membranes' shrinkage, morphology, apparent porosity, hydraulic permeance, and BSA protein retention were evaluated to identify the effect of using the pore-forming agent. The membrane prepared without activated carbon rejected 91% of the BSA molecules (66 kDa), indicating its molecular weight cut-off. Using more than 2.5% of activated carbon increased the porosity and hydraulic permeance of the membranes, but at the expense of low BSA retention. Graphical Abstract: ga1 Highlights: Ultrafiltration membrane prepared with only one forming step by centrifugal casting. The particle size and density of materials influenced the hierarchy of the cross-section. Activated carbon as a pore-former increased porosity (12%) and hydraulic permeance (125%). The control membrane with no activated carbon retained ∼92% of the BSA protein.